Jazz in Dalston
One of London’s premier jazz clubs, The Vortex Jazz club, in Dalston, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Great place to hear jazz and donwstairs there is a lovely pizza bar (you can bring them upstairs to eat.)
Arcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre was founded in September 2000 when Mehmet Ergen (the present artistic director) and Leyla Nazli (the present Executive Producer) converted a textile factory on the borders of Stoke Newington/Dalston into one of Londons largest and most adaptable fringe venues (*).
Arcola is now one of the countrys most renowned fringe theatres with a distinct and powerful identity both within in the local community and British theatre. Since its foundation Arcola Theatre has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award two years in a row and was given the Time Out Live Award twice for Inventive Programming on a Shoestring in 2003 and Favourite Fringe Venue in 2005/6. A large number of its productions have been selected as Critics Choice in Time Out and the national papers.
It has gained a reputation for staging work by some of the best actors, writers and directors including productions by William Gaskill, Dominic Droomgoole, Max Stafford-Clark, David Farr, Bonnie Greer, Adam Rapp, Sam Shepherd, Eric Schossler, Helena Kaut-Howson and Kathryn Hunter.
In 2003 Arcola was said to live on love and hope rather than money (Independent). Recently recognised as an Off-West End (rather than Fringe) venue, Arcola now enjoys stable funding from, among others, Arts Council England. Nonetheless the ethos of an open door and endless possibilities keeps belts tights and life vibrant
The Rio Cinema
If you’re planning to pop off to the cinema this weekend, check out the Local Rio Cinema. Its a lovely nostalgic & cozy picture house, that offers home-made cakes, coffee and 30p cups of fizzy drinks.
Monday Evening cheap tickets: £5:50
The Rio started life as an auctioneer’s shop but converted in 1909 into a makeshift picture house. In 1913, cinema architects Adams & Coles of Hackney converted the premises into a proper cinema. Its present Art Deco form internally and externally dates from 1937 when Fredrick F. Bromige gutted the earlier building and created the Classic Cinema which was refurbished as the Rio in 1998. It is a Grade II* listed building and the only mainstream cinema in Hackney.
